Things To Do In
AUSTRALIA
AUSTRALIA | 1
AUSTRALIA | 2
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Australia is known for many things — extraordinary landscapes, laid-back cities, beautiful beaches. It would be impossible to see the country and experience all it has to offer on a single trip. But these 25 places and activities should be at the top of any traveler’s bucket list, whether he’s a foreign tourist flying in from afar or a native Australian looking to explore his own country.
Enjoy a drink at the Opera Bar before seeing a performance at the Sydney Opera House.
Inside View of the Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House, designed by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon, stands on Bennelong Point. With water lapping at its base, and its high white roof billowing like sails in the wind, the building took 16 years to complete, and came in at ten times its original estimated cost, but has proved to be landmark known throughout the world. The predicted four-year construction started in 1959. After a tumultuous clash of egos, delays, politicking, death and cost blowouts, Utzon quit in disgust in 1966. The Opera House finally opened in 1973. Utzon and his son Jan were commissioned for renovations in 2004, but Utzon died in 2008 having never seen his finished masterpiece in the flesh.
Opera House continues to perform its function as a world-class performing arts centre. The Conservation Plan specifies the need to balance the roles of the building as an architectural monument and as a state of the art performing centre, thus retaining its authenticity of use and function. Attention given to retaining the building’s authenticity culminated with the Conservation Plan and the Utzon Design Principles. The interior of The Sydney Opera House is also magnificent and it consists of grate number of facilities and venues such as Concert Hall (the largest interior venue at Sydney Opera House). The Sydney Opera House was included in the National Heritage List in 2005 under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and on the State Heritage Register of New South Wales in 2003 under the Heritage Act 1977. Australia is a massive country that requires at least a 14-hour flight from the United States, depending on your exact location. Planning a trip may seem a bit overwhelming, but with the wide variety of activities, diverse scenery, exciting cities, and unique wildlife, the effort is well-worth the reward. With a landscape that includes everything from the dessert to rain forests and picturesque beaches, you can have experiences here that are available nowhere else on earth. Taking time to read these travel tips can and answers to frequently asked questions can be used as your Australia travel guide for an amazing journey. Australia is a very large, sparsely populated country. You can sometimes travel many hours before finding even a trace of civilization once you leave the southeastern coastal area. Many travelers choose to take flights to visit different areas of the country. Renting a car is an option, especially if you plan to stay in one region. If you don’t mind a long trip road adventure, of course you can venture further. In Australia, you’ll have to drive on the left, so it may take a little time to get used to. The good news is that you’ll find a fairly well-maintained system of roads and highways. You can use your valid U.S. driver’s license to drive in Australia. First keep in mind that you’ll in mind that all travelers, other than New Zealand citizens, require a visa in advance of travel.
Is a great architectural work of the 20th century. It represents multiple strands of creativity, both in architectural form and structural design, a great urban sculpture carefully set in a remarkable waterscape and a world famous iconic building. The Sydney AUSTRALIA | 3
CAIRNS Cairns, (pictured above) is located a little above parallel 17ÂşS, on a flat plain between the sea and the mountains. Despite the ocean water being very clean, the bottom is muddy. Anyway, going North or South you will find the most beautiful beaches surrounded by palm trees, white sand and thick tropical forests. Cairns has an excellent tourist infra-structure with wonderful hotels, and they are crowded with people from all over the world. In Cairns you can choose to stay quiet and calm, or pump your adrenaline in many different tourist attractions. The Great Barrier Reef in front of Cairns, is the area where the reef is closer to the shore; therefore easier to visit. Also, the mountains surrounding Cairns have many impressive beautiful places, and tours to entertain all ages.
Village now totally devoted to tourism. There are many souvenirs and local arts and crafts shops, great cafes, restaurants and beautiful surroundings. For adrenalin junkies, there is a radical Bungy Jump, and for those who prefer something more heart calming, there is a Butterfly Enclosure where you will meet butterflies from all over the world. It is inside a netted dome where you can walk through.
One of these great tours is by cable car that crosses from Cairns up to Kuranda in the mountains. (See picture on left). The car goes flying high above the huge and dense tropical forest, crossing rivers and valleys where you can observe magnificent waterfalls. It is not cheap, but worth every cent. On the way there are 3 stations where you can stop off for a walk in the park, and than pick it up again at the next station. There is no extra cost to do so. Another option: instead of doing the round trip, go by cable car and come back by bus. We do consider this trip as a must do while in Cairns.
After Port Douglas, the road starts to diminish in wideness, getting narrower and narrower until it becomes only a gravel road especially after Cooktown. Cooktown will be one of the last places to get fuel, and groceries, on your way to Cape York (The most northern point of Australia). Cooktown is an historic town with many preserved memorials and monuments. A Captain Cook statue is located in the towns’ main square. This region and further north is known to be Aboriginal land, received back from the government after being reclaimed by Aboriginals. One important thing to Know is that the betumen road goes up to Cooktown. From there North only gravel 4x4 road impassible after heavy rain.
Another great trip in the same area, is the train that zigzags through the valleys and canyons of the region. It passes in front of many beautiful waterfalls and makes a few stops for you to take photos. The train leaves Kuranda just beside the cable car station and does a round trip circuit also with the option to return to Cairns by bus. One great idea is to go by cable car, take the train, and come back by bus. (the road is also beautiful). Kuranda is an Aborigine
Leaving Cairns and traveling about 40 km north by is Port Douglas. (photo). The City is small but very inviting. It attracts tourists from all over the world not only for the spectacular Great Barrier Reef, but also because it is the exit point to the Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation. Daintree National Park is a unique example of forest diversity and beauty. It is dense and receives a large amount of rain all year round. The rivers and canals that cross the Park, have amazing wildlife, fish and also salt water crocodiles. There are tours to visit the crocks in their natural habitat. Also; the Park hosts a large number of different species of birds such as parrots and rosellas. If you are visiting the Park by yourself, is advisable to use 4x4 vehicles because the road can become impassable for normal vehicles during heavy rain. If you wish, there are tours to Daintree National Park from Cairns and Port Douglas and you can overnight in the tourist lodges near the Park.
AUSTRALIA | 4
From there on all you are going to get is a big Challenge taking the road to Cape Tribulation and Cape York. Many creeks and rivers must be crossed and we never know if it can be done or not. Only 4x4 vehicles are able to make it and you must be self sufficient enough to know how to fix your car, and get it out of crazy situations. There are no signs to indicate if you have to turn right or left, except for an occasional mark on a tree or rock. If you get lost, it will be difficult to find your direction without a compass, because of dense forest around you. It is not advisable to leave the vehicle and tell someone when you leave your schedule to come back. Staying in your vehicle, gives you a better chance of being found by helicopter. It’s also not advisable to travel there during the rainy season.
sharks and whales. Much of the country’s wildlife is unique to the island; here you’ll have the chance to see kangaroos practically everywhere you go. You can also spot koalas, wallabies, wombats, platypus, and even Tasmania devils. Wildlife sanctuaries and parks even offer the opportunity to hold a koala. The nation is also home to thousands of miles of sandy beach, making beach bumming and all types of water sports popular too. Visiting Australia is sure to be an adventure of a lifetime. The trip is rarely about one thing, but a very wide variety of experiences, making it especially memorable. Because it is so far away, you may need to save up your vacation, and your cash, as it’s best to spend at least two or three weeks here. It’s too bad that so few Americans make the long trek, as it is sure to open your eyes to a completely different world. Regular flights from Perth land you within easy driving distance of Karijini National Park - it’s just two hours from Newman and Paraburdoo, three hours from Port Hedland and four and a half hours from Karratha. You can also join guided tours from Tom Price, Karratha and Port Hedland. Alternatively, doing the journey by road from Perth will take you about three days, heading up the coast via Geraldton or through the outback on the Great Northern Highway.
Australia is known for its luxury resorts. Many can be found in remote locations like deep in the Outback or on islands off the Great Barrier Reef. All the major chains have branches in the country and there are several local hotel chains available at all quality levels. There are also numerous hostels, guesthouses, bed and breakfasts, and even pubs that offer everything from very basic rooms to newly renovated boutique digs. If you’re more adventurous, you’ll also find many camping options in Australia. Most camping parks will rent sites by the night, where you can pitch a tent, and are available in most towns and cities. National Parks even offer free tent sites. Diving and snorkeling are on the top of the list for many travelers to Australia. The country offers many spectacular underwater sights, with the Great Barrier Reef quite breathtaking. Here you can swim with brilliant tropical fish, view coral, or even swim with
Perhaps the most amazing thing about Karijini, besides being one of the largest and most spectacular national parks in Australia, is the fact that its most iconic scenery is within easy reach. You can pull into a car park, walk 50 metres and see waterfalls rushing down rugged canyons into rock pools. The waters of Fortescue Falls run all through the year at Dales Gorge, where a cooling dip awaits you at the end of an easy walk to Fern Pool and Circular Pool. Weano Gorge invites the more adventurous into its winding narrow gorges, the far reaches of which should only be tackled with a guide to enjoy the thrills of jumping down waterfalls and climbing out from the depths of ‘The Centre of the Earth’. Nature lovers will enjoy a walk among the mulga, spinifex, eucalypts, melaleuca and some 50 varieties of acacia, keeping a keen eye out for the euro (rock wallaby), dingoes, 133 species of birds and 92 species of amphibians and reptiles.
AUSTRALIA | 5
KARIJINI NATIONAL PARK should only be tackled with a guide to enjoy the thrills of jumping down waterfalls and climbing out from the depths of ‘The Centre of the Earth’. Nature lovers will enjoy a walk among the mulga, spinifex, eucalypts, melaleuca and some 50 varieties of acacia, keeping a keen eye out for the euro (rock wallaby), dingoes, 133 species of birds and 92 species of amphibians and reptiles. Spend the night under a star-filled sky, taking your pick from the camping and glamping options available in the park. For more information on walking, sightseeing, camping, flora and fauna, stop by at the Karijini Visitor Centre.
Enter Mother Nature’s own adventure world, Karijini National Park. Climb, swim or gaze into the depths of its 100 metre chasms, revealing four billion years of the Earth’s history and some of the oldest rocks on the planet. Follow the trails, descend into cavernous gorges and cool off in inviting pools beneath plunging waterfalls, or scale Western Australia’s second highest peak - Mount Bruce. Regular flights from Perth land you within easy driving distance of Karijini National Park - it’s just two hours from Newman and Paraburdoo, three hours from Port Hedland and four and a half hours from Karratha. You can also join guided tours from Tom Price, Karratha and Port Hedland. Alternatively, doing the journey by road from Perth will take you about three days, heading up the coast via Geraldton or through the outback on the Great Northern Highway. Perhaps the most amazing thing about Karijini, besides being one of the largest and most spectacular national parks in Australia, is the fact that its most iconic scenery is within easy reach. You can pull into a car park, walk 50 metres and see waterfalls rushing down rugged canyons into rock pools. The waters of Fortescue Falls run all through the year at Dales Gorge, where a cooling dip awaits you at the end of an easy walk to Fern Pool and Circular Pool. Weano Gorge invites the more adventurous into its winding narrow gorges, the far reaches of which AUSTRALIA | 6
PERTH Perth is Australia’s only capital city where you can enjoy the beach lifestyle, relax in natural bushland, sample world-class local wines and watch an ocean sunset within just 30 minutes of the city. It’s also the sunniest state capital, averaging 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and boasting a string of 19 beautifully clean and uncrowded beaches, from iconic Cottesloe to the surf hotspot of Scarborough. Regular flights to Perth depart from overseas, all state capitals and many regional locations, landing you just 20 minutes from the central business district. For more exciting ways to get there, how about a ride on the legendary Indian Pacific rail, an epic road trip across the Nullarbor, or a summer cruise of the coast? Situated beside the Swan River, Perth is a living picture postcard, with the best views of all from Kings Park and Botanic Garden - one of the biggest inner-city parks in the world. Larger than New York’s Central Park, there are so many ways to enjoy its 400-plus hectares of sculpted gardens and natural bushland. Stroll the treetop walk, take an Indigenous cultural tour, picnic among the gum trees and in Spring, see the wildflowers in bloom. Another city icon is the Swan Bells, which fills the air with sounds from one of the largest musical instruments on Earth. From there, you can hop on the free bus to museums, art galleries and the Perth Mint home to the world’s greatest collection of gold bars. There’s also plenty of retail therapy on offer. The high-end fashion boutiques of King Street make it the place to be seen. The Murray and Hay Street malls are where you’ll find the big brands, or for some eclectic vibes, head to Northbridge, Mount Lawley, Leederville, Subiaco or Victoria Park. Take a lazy lunch by the river or beachside and enjoy the fresh fusion flavours of Perth’s many cafes, restaurants and new small bars. Jump on a ferry to South Perth to take in that sensational skyline. It’s spectacular at night, when the glittering lights are reflected on the river.
AUSTRALIA | 7
PINNACLES The lunar-like Pinnacles form one of Australia’s most unique and fascinating natural landscapes. Formed over millions of years, thousands of tall limestone spires rise eerily out of the yellow desert sands of Nambung National Park, just outside the coastal town of Cervantes.
weathering, and chemical erosion! The result of these millions of years of fire, ice, and upset are the serene rock formations visited by 250 thousand visitors each year. Strange, the way a violent and dynamic past has resulted in such a peaceful landscape for today’s hikers and climbers!
In just over two hours from Perth, following the Indian Ocean Drive, you can transport yourself to another world, venturing into the Pinnacles along the scenic drive or walk trail. Or, you can let someone else take the wheel and join a coach or four wheel drive tour from Perth or Cervantes.
Today, these rocks give many species of plants and animals a place to call home, including the highly endangered California Condor. Pinnacles is one of four sites where captive-bred condors are released to live in the wild, and many of these birds live out their lives flying between Pinnacles and the Big Sur coast. California condor numbers are now on the rise after reaching a low of only 22 birds in the early 1980’s. Thirty years of captive breeding, careful monitoring,
Stand at the lookout and ponder the natural forces of water and wind that shaped the Pinnacles from seashells over millions of years. Better still, visit the Pinnacles Desert Discovery Centre and see the Pinnacles’ story revealed in interpretive displays, as well as some insights into the plants and animals that have made their home here. At America’s newest National Park, the possibilities for discovery are limitless! Climbing and hiking among the breathtaking spires and rock formations that gave Pinnacles its name is only the beginning of what the park has to offer. Come seek out the California Condor in the high peaks, explore the rare chaparral vegetation and carpets of wildflowers, or just picnic at the visitor center.
and exhaustive preservation efforts have brought that number up to over 400 birds, over 200 of which fly free in California, Arizona, and Utah. In any given day over 60 birds may flying in and around the park, but that number is usually much lower and condors are a rare site, especially compared to their cousin, the turkey vulture.
The Pinnacles story begins 23 million years ago when an ancient volcanic field began forming the rocks that characterize the park today. A few million year of powerful explosions, lava flows, and landslides created the 30 mile wide volcanic field that forms that foundation of our pinnacles today. This field of fire was then split down the center by the San Andreas Fault and the west side traveled 195 miles north at a rate of 3-6 centimeters each year, all while being worn away by water, AUSTRALIA | 8
With a good eye and a little luck, though, visitors may be able to spot two or three soaring over the peaks in search of a carrion lunch! While condors and magnificent rock spires are certainly what draws many visitors to Pinnacles, they are by no all there is to see at the park. Visitors can explore two systems of talus caves, which are formed by massive boulders wedged in ravines and widened by water and erosion.
prefer to stay in the sun, you can hike our 32 miles of trails which are decorated. During the spring months with California poppies, bush lupine, mariposa lilies and a variety of other wildflowers. These flowers are pollinated by the park’s 400 species of bees, a higher density of species per area than any other known place in the world!
Rocks the size of houses will hang steadily over your You may also see bobcats, coyotes, black-tailed deer, any number of lizards and snakes, tarantulas, and head as you make your way through a cool, dark environment that provides a home for Townsend big- perhaps even a mountain lion! You never know what eared bats and red-legged frogs, among others. If you you’ll find when you visit Pinnacles National Park! AUSTRALIA | 9
AUSTRALIA | 10